Thread: 41 New Yorker Coupe

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I was looking for a project car for a while.
At first I was looking at 39 Chevy coupes and 37 Fords.
I found there were so many of them and also that the prices for a rusty piece of junk were way out of line.

I had subscribed to Wheeler Dealer magazine out of Iowa I believe and I kept seeing this pic of a 1941 Chrysler for sale.
At first I thought it had a cool side view profile.





About 8 months goes by and I contact the seller and get some more pics.
One of them was this front view shot and I never called him back for a while after that.





I really didn't want the car then but I kept on thinking how cool it looked from the side.

As I was checking more 37 Fords, I realized I could just get some 37 Ford headlights as that's what I really loved about them and I could easily graft them on to the front of the car and it would look cool.

So I cut out a headlight and mocked up a couple of grill inserts to check things out.






This is where things started getting interesting.......

Pugsy

Looks pretty cool.

looks like a cool car. More pics please. Don Jr.

Originally Posted by Mr Blue

looks like a cool car. More pics please. Don Jr.

More coming after this weekend.
I'll be leaving for a regional Metal Shaping gathering soon.

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

That'll work! Going to move the headlight opening out a bit then to bring it to the '37 bucket?

Thanks.
Actually, I'm going to move the fender back to get to the bezel.

Originally Posted by rumrumm

The profile looks like the car is already chopped 2-3 inches. Cool! Sometimes the odd makes of cars become the coolest projects. I am eager to follow your build on this one.

Thanks.

It does have a long wheelbase kind of giving the illusion of a low roof.
I will chop it about 1-1/2'' just to give a bit nicer look.

I did want something different and I think I'll have no problem getting it with this car and mods.

Next thing to do was to bring the metal in and back to meet the bezel. I made a plate the same shape as the headlight to start the process.



Then a slathering of bondo to see how she looks with the 37 headlights.....




It was at this point I started visiting the metalshaping sites and learned how to make a flexible shape pattern.




It was about the exact time I was doing this that one of the guys on MetalMeet invited me and a few other guys down to his place to learn a bit.
I took a flat sheet of metal with me and came back with my first shaped piece.
I tacked it to a new, thicker plate and then it was time to operate....

I cut out the bondo and junk using the pattern to mark the cut.




Then it was time to check out what would happen.
I had previously cut the patch panel using the flexible pattern as a guide.
I then tacked the new piece into the opening.

Originally Posted by pastor bubba

Looks pretty cool.

Thanks Pastor.

I've had it for 3 years now. I have alot more to add.

I'll try to add a bit everyday until I get up to date.

That'll work! Going to move the headlight opening out a bit then to bring it to the '37 bucket?

The profile looks like the car is already chopped 2-3 inches. Cool! Sometimes the odd makes of cars become the coolest projects. I am eager to follow your build on this one.

Very cool concept. Must be a bear to shape that much metal.

Originally Posted by Rickomatic

Very cool concept. Must be a bear to shape that much metal.

Thanks.

Shaping the metal is pretty tough at first but gets alot easier as you do more.

After getting the buck completed I made up a large flexible pattern to help make up the new metal panels for the front and fender tops.







Scary part tipping the bottom adge of the front panel....



And then it was time to start cutting off all the buck and start tacking in the new panels....that's Mark lifting off the first piece.





Thanks for looking,
Pugsy

I got the front pieces all tacked in place.
This was in February of last year.




A few months later I pushed it outside for a little look....





After getting to this point I realized I needed a chassis to hold up the new front clip....

Originally Posted by 123pugsy

Thanks.

Shaping the metal is pretty tough at first but gets alot easier as you do more.

After getting the buck completed I made up a large flexible pattern to help make up the new metal panels for the front and fender tops.







Scary part tipping the bottom adge of the front panel....



And then it was time to start cutting off all the buck and start tacking in the new panels....that's Mark lifting off the first piece.





Thanks for looking,
Pugsy

Some great sheet metal work as said . You are doing some great reforming and the look is outstanding making such a big change in the front view . What have you got for the plans in the back ?? So its year 4 of 10 don't look like you be that long getting it completed at all .

Originally Posted by bluestang67

Some great sheet metal work as said . You are doing some great reforming and the look is outstanding making such a big change in the front view . What have you got for the plans in the back ?? So its year 4 of 10 don't look like you be that long getting it completed at all .

Thanks Bobby.

The back end will get fenders welded to the body which will also be extended outwards about 1'' - 1-1/2''.

A roll pan will be formed and welded in also.

Tail lights will be 1939 teardrop Ford LED's.
I may still change these if they appear ''lost'' on the back as they are quite small.

Played around with some tape and a spray bomb of black paint last night.

I just love the 40 Willys grill and thought I would mock it up on the front.